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CUPHD pushing preventative mosquito measures for summer
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — It's not exactly a surprise but a familiar foe is back for another season.
Friday was officially the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. This means nice weather and sunny skies, but also mosquitoes and all that comes with them. On Wednesday, Christian County reported their first West Nile positive mosquito of the year.
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The Champaign Urbana Public Health District said seeing positive mosquitoes for West Nile isn't exactly breaking news, but it doesn't mean it should be taken any less serious.
'Here it's in the birds; it's in the mosquitoes,' said Champaign-Urbana Public Health Administrator Julie Pryde. 'They get it from the birds; they get it from different animals. We are going to see it.'
For years, the virus has been considered endemic in Central Illinois. This means the virus has been here in Central Illinois and will continue to be said people still need to stay on top of preventive measures.
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'It's just like the flu: flu is endemic. So, we will make sure that every season when it becomes more likely that people get infected, we'll just remind people you need to, you know, take precautions against the flu,' Pryde said. 'So, it's more like reminders now. At the beginning, it was a new virus, it was a completely new virus in the United States that we hadn't been dealing with. And so, it was definitely more concerning.'
Birds and mosquitoes continue to be the main culprits to keep an eye on.
Pryde also said the best way to limit risk is to get rid of standing water. Other measures include using repellent and wearing long sleeves.
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